Smelter



` E.' E. KING sMELTER Filed. June l, 1922 6 SheetS-Sheef.- 2

Jan. 27, 1925. l 524 359 E. E. KING l SMELTER Filed June'l, 1922 esheets-sheet s ANN wx Q. lullllw NQ\ um hw kw Q S s@ Nrlm m. MENU@ E. E.KING SMELTER Filed June l, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. E. KING' SMELTER CilPatented `ian. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES ERASTUS EDWTN KING, OF GENTERTON, ARKANSAS.

SMELTER.

Application filed June l, 1922. Serial No. 565,030.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Finnsrus EnwiN liiNo, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Centerton, in the county of Benton and State ofArkansas, have invented a new and useful Smelter, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has reference to smelt-ers, and more particularlysmelters for extractiing precious metals, such as gold and silver fromorcs taken from mines containing such metals.

'llhe primary object of the invention is to provide 'a smelter heated byoil burners, the smelter having a novel arrangement of pipes providingcommunication between various chambers and elements of the smelter mal;-ing it possible to refine or extract the ores to the nest degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smelter wherein the bodyportion thereof may be readily and easily opened to facilitate repairingand cleaning of the burners as well as the ore chamber thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for readilyand easily conveying the slag or other material held in the ore chamberto facilitate cleaning of the orc chamber.

lll/lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the coinbination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 a plan view of a smelting furnace constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sido elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line of Figure 1.

Figure 4lis a sectional view taken on line t--ll of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line .5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an elevational view disclosing the bearing supporting meansfor .the spiral conveyor.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8 8' of Fig. 2.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Figure 1, the lowerportion of the furnace being removed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5designates the base of the sinelting furnace which is formed with apassageway 6, the upper wall thereof be ing formed with` an opening 7 topermit material toybe discharged into the passageway (i, where the samemay bel removed. Extending transversely of the bar 5, are thepartitioning walls 9 providing a passageway 9 to admit air to thecentral portion of the smelter and feed the burner 10 positionedthereabove. A pipe 11 is shown as providing con'nnunication between thepassageway or 'Hue 9 and the burner chamber 12. Supported adjacent toone end of the passageway 9 is a hinged closure 13 for controlling thepassage of air into the passageway 9.

A wall 14 is formed at one end of the passageway 9 and separates thepassageway 9 from the flue 15, which iiue 15 provides communicationbetween the upper portion of the smelter and smoke stack not shown, fordirecting the heat from the smelter downwardly and to the chinmey.

The body portion of the smelter is indicated at 16, the same beingformed with a central circular portion provided with partitioning walls17l which divide the body portion into a plurality of adjacent burnerchambers 18, one of the walls 17 however being relatively wide andformed by opposed sections 19 to provide a passageway 20 communicatingwith the atmosphere through an opening 21 formed in the wall of the bodyportion to admit air above the burners to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Burners 22 are positioned in the burner chambers 18, the burnersincluding burner pipes 23 and feeding pipes 24, the burner pipes beingdisposed adjacent to the bottom of the body portion, so that the heattherefrom will pass upwardly to heat the ore chamber 25 supportedthereabove. Dis posed substantially centrally of the body portion 16 isa circular wall 26 forming a central burner chamber 12 in which is poisshown asV Ypositioned therein.

sitioned the burner l() that is circular in formation and embraces thepipe 11 that feeds air to the burner chamber. The upper extremity of thewall 26 is serrated as at 27 providing openings between the wall landbase of the ore chamber to permit the heat from the central burner 10,to pass outwardly therefrom. Y

The walls 17 extend inwardly, the inner surfaces thereofv contactingwith the circular wall 26, the portions of the walls above the circularwall-26 being cut away to accommodate the ore chamber 25, which rThisore chamber is formed with an opening 28 adjacent to the bottom thereof,in which opening is positioned the tubular'member 29 that is disposed atan angle with respect to the base 5 and extends through the body portionof the smelter. Positioned in the tubular member 29 is a spiral conveyor30 which is of a length to extend into the ore chamber 25, the oppositeend thereof being provided with a gear 31 adapted to mesh with thepinion 32 of the shaft 33, whereby rotary movement of the shaft willproduce a relativeV movement of the spiral conveyor to feed materialfrom the ore chamber to accomplish the cleaning thereof. The materialfed through the tubular member 29 is deposited through the opening 34and into the passageway 6, where the same will be removed.

Supports 35 are mounted on the base and carry bearing members 36 at theupper ends thereof, which bearing members accommodate the supportingshaft 37 which is shown as having its ends disposed in the bearings.This shaft 37 provides at support for the hangers 38 in which the shaft33 is mounted, pulleys 39 being secured to the shaft 33 for impartingrotary movement thereto.

From the foregoingit will be seen that due to this construction, theshaft 37 may be rotated or swung to bring` the pinions .31 and 32 intoengagement with each other. In order that the shaft 37 may be moved asdescribed, a controlling handle 40 is carried by the shaft, a suitablelatch member 4l being provided to contact with the handle 40 to hold thesame in its normal or inactive position.

The tubular member 29 is so constructed that the same may be movedwithin the opening 28 to bring the same into oper ation. Guide rods 42are mounted on opposite sides of the supports 35, the guide rods beingarranged in pairs so that the bars 43 may move therebetween to guide thetubular member together with the spiral conveyor, to and from theopening, and at the same time provide means to permit the tubular member29 and member 30 to be moved into and out of operation.

When the tubular member 29 is in its inactive position, the opening 28,in which the same is positioned, is closed by a suitable plug, notshown, which may be readily withdrawn from the opening, when it isdesired to position the tubular member 29. Latch members 41 arepivotally supported adjacent to the bars 43 to hold the bars 43 andmember 29 to which the bars are connected, in their active positions.

The reference character 44 designates au air supply pipe which hasconnection with a suitable air blast pipe not shown, as through thecoupling 45. As shown, this pipe 44 extends around approximately theentire base 5, the same being spaced however from the body portion.

Above the pipe 44 is disposed the main oil supply pipe 46 which hascommunication with the burners 22 as through the relatively short pipes47 suitable valve members 48 being provided for controlling the passageof the oil or liquid fuel to the burners 22.

Air is supplied to the pipes 47, through the pipes 49 which communicatewith the pipe 44, and pipes 47 so that as. the air is forced through thepipes, particles of the liquid fuel are picked up and carried to theburners proper. Valve members 50 con trol the passage of the air blastto the pipes 47. An oil supply pipe 51 is also in communication with themain oil supply pipe, and feeds fuel to the burner 52 which ispositioned within the ore chamber to supply heat directly to the orecontained in the chamber.

Supported on the body portion 16, and housing the ore chamber 25 is anupper casing 53 which embodies hinged sections mounted on the supportingrod 54 which is secured to the base 5, in any suitable manner and heldagainst lateral movement by means of the cables Straps 56 are carriedbythe respective sections of the casing 53 and embrace portions of therod, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

Apertured ears 57 are formed on the respective sections of the casing,which ears accommodate the bolts 58, whereby the sections may be movedinto close engagement with each other to completely house the orechamber.

As shown, the upper casing is formed with lateral openings 59 and 60respectively. which openings are closed by means of the hinged closures61 whereby a person may readily and easily view the interior of the orechamber 25 to inspect the same for repairs or cleaning purposes.

An opening 62 is formed in the upper wall of the ore chamber anddisposed directly under the opening 63 formed in the upper wall of theupper casing 53, the

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naamw openings G3 being provided to admit material to the ore chamber.Positioned on the upper casing 53 is a housing 64 which is formed with ahopper extending from one of the side walls thereof, which hopper hasthe lower portion thereof communicating with the opening 63 whereby oremay be fed through the hopper to the ore chamber. Operating in theopening 63 is a sliding valve member 66, which, when in `itsl lowermostposition lies within the opening 63 to close the same for controllingthe passage of the ore through the openings 62 and 63.

iti housing 67 accommodates the valve member (36 and is formed with anopening (38 to permit the valve rod69 to move therethrough, the valverod G9 having connection with ythe valve member 66 as clearly shown byFigure 3 of the drawings.

Qin operating lever 70 is pivctally supported on the housing 64 andconnects with the valve rod 69 so that thevalve member 66 may be n'iovedas described, at the will of the operator. Formed 'on the outer surfaceof the orechamber 25 are ribs 7 i which contact with the inner-surfaceof the upper housing 53 to support the housing` in spaced relation withthe yore chamber, "to allow for the free passage of heat around the orechamber to properly heat the same.

Av partitioning member 7 3 is positioned in the housing (ii and issupported in spaced relation with the'bottom thereof to provide apassageway therebetween, the partitioning member 7 3 being formed withlateral openings 74 to provide means of communication between theupperportion of the housing 64 and space between the partitioning waell 7 3and bottom wall of the housing.

Positioned in the housing and supported by the partitioning member 73 isa hopper 7 5 which is formed with a lower compartment 7G to accommodatethe sliding contrainer 77 which has a knob 7 8 to permit the container77 to be removed. Communi- -ating with the upper portion of the orechamber 25 is a pipe 7 8 which has its upper extremity commuiiicatingwith the hopper 7 5, whereby products of combustion may pass from theore chamber into the hopper 75. rfhe container 77 is designed to containa quantity of mercury for collecting the metals which may pass from therupper portion of the ore chamber and be otherwise lost.

levering the upper portion of the hopper is a member 79 which is alsoformed with lateral openings 80 providing communication between thecompartment formed between the member 79 and upper wall 8l of thehousing establishing a cooling space around the hopper and containersupported at the base thereof.

Extending through the member 8l, is a pipe S2 which is in communicationwith a suitable source of water supply to cause a circulation of thewater around the hopper and container 77 to cool the same.

ln order that the hopper 7 5 may be efficiently cleaned, a pipe 84- isprovided, which pipe has communication with the hopper 75 permittingaccess to the hopper to allow an operator to insert a suitable tool toclean `the hopper 75. A, closure 83 closes the upper end of the pipe S4;to normally close the upper end and prevent material from fallingthereinto. Cut out portions 85 are formed at the base of the housing 64.at opposite sides thereof to permit air to pass under the housing tofurther cool the walls thereof. i

Above each burner chamber is an opening 86 which is closed by a slidingclosure `87 to permit a person to view the burners 'positioned withinthe burner chambers to. repair or adjustthe same. A dischargel opening88 communicates with the ore chamber Qifor receiving material therefrom,a suitable discharge pipe't) being provided for carrying ofi thematerial. The pipe 89 is normally closed as by means of the removableplug 90, whereby die operator may at predetermined intervals allow themolten metal to drain from the ore chamber 25.

In order that the tubular member 29 may be readily moved to itsoperative or inoperative position, a lifting lever 91 is provided,thesame being pivotally supported adjacent to the forward supportingmember 35, whereby the extremity 92 thereof lies directly under thetubular member 29 for lifting the tubular member.

It `might be further stated that the container 77 is formed with anopening whereby material passing into the. container may overflow andpass outwardly through the pipe 94 that isshown as having one end.thereof communicating with the compartment 76.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The several burners are supplied with fuel in amanner as described andwhen the ore chamber has become properly heated, ore is discharged intothe ore chamber where the metals contained therein are melted. Themolten metal collects in the base of the ore chamber and at intervals isreleased through the pipe 89 and deposited in suitable con tainers notshown.

The metals which are present in the products of combustion and vaporarising from the heated ore in the ore chamber pass upwardly through thepipe 78 and into the hopper 7 5 where the same pass downwardly,contacting with the mercury in the container 77 to further separate anyparticles of metal.

During the smelting operation, cooling fluid passes through the pipe 82circulating around the hopper 75 and container 77 to the end that thesmelter is maintained in a cooled condition, to properly carry out thepurpose of the device.

If it is desired to clean the ore chamber, the tubular member 29 may beinserted in the opening 28, whereupon the member 37 may be swungdownwardly to bring the gears 3l and 32 into mesh. It is obvious that aspower is applied to the pulleys 39, the Vspiral conveyor 30 is rotated,carrying the dust, hardened rock and slag from the ore chamber where thesame is deposited in .the passageway 6 as previously described.

As the smelting operation continues the valve member 66 may be operatedto discharge predetermined quantities of ore replenishing the quantityin the ore chamber 25.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion supported on the base,said body portion having a plurality of burner chambers, burners in theburner chambers, an externally heated ore chamber supported above theburner chambers to receive heat therefrom, a circular wall disposedcentrally of the body portion, a central burner positioned in thecompartment formed by lthe circular wall, said circular wall having cutout port-ions to permit heat to pass therefrom, a housing surroundingthe burner chambers and disposed in spaced relation Y therewith topermit heat to circulate around the ore chamber, means for supplying oreto the ore chamber, and means for draining` metals from the ore chamber.

2. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion supported on the base,a circular wall providing a central burner chamber, an eXteriorly heatedore chamber supported above the circular wall to receive heat therefrom,means for delivering ore to the ore chamber, means positioned above theore chamber for treating the vapor therefrom, and means for drainingVmolten metal from the ore chamber.

8. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion supported on the baseand having burner chambers, an eXteriorly heated ore chamber supportedabove the burner chambers to receive heat therefrom, a. removable spiral`conveyor operating in the base of the ore chamber for removing materialtherefrom, means for operating the spiral conveyor, means for enclosingthe upper portion of the ore chamber, means for feedingl material to theore chan'iber, and means for draining metals from the ore chamber.

1. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion supported above thebase, burner chambers formed in the body portion, burners within theburner chambers, an exteriorly heated oie chamber supported above theburner chambers to receive heat therefrom, a sectional housing enclosingthe upper portion of the ore chamber, the sections of the housing beinghingedly connected to permit the ore chamber to be exposed, means abovethe ore chamber for receivingfvapors therefrom, to extract metals fromthe vapors, means including a hopper and valve member for feedingmaterial to the ore chamber, a heating means within the ore chamber, andmeans for draining molten metals from the ore chamber.

5. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion supported by the base,an exteriorly heated ore chamber having one endthereof disposed withinthe body portion, partitioning walls in the body portion for supportingthe ore chamber, the spaces between the partitioning walls providingburner chambers, burners within the burner chambers, a central burnerfor heating the central portion of the ore chamber, means for treatingthe fumes arising from the ore chamber, means for feeding material tothe ore chamber, and means for draining molten metals therefrom.

6. In a smelting furnace, a base, a body portion on the base, anexteriorly heated ore chamber supported by the body portion, means inthe body portion for heating the ore chamber, a sectional housingembracing the upper portion of the ore chamber and being spacedtherefrom to provide a heat passageway around the ore chamber, meansdisposed within the ore chamber for directly heating the contentsthereof, mean for feeding ore to the ore chamber, and means for drainingmolten metal therefrom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS EDVIN KING.

IVitnesses It. W. MILLER, F. C. HUGHES.

